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September 05, 2007

Using less

A lot of people are talking about improved energy efficiency
as a means of solving the climate crisis, which is great. But I am not
convinced that technology will bring us quite enough increased efficiency to
make the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

I think, too, that the climate crisis—not to mention the
planet’s numerous other environmental problems—calls for us to use less. Use
less power, use less oil, use less stuff.

As I write, it’s dark out. There is one100-watt equivalent,
solar-powered LED light on in the living room of our apartment. There are no
other lights. When we want to read in bed, we’ll move the light in there.
There’s a beeswax candle in the bathroom for tooth brushing.

No TV is blaring. No video game is bleeping. No air
conditioner is humming. Last month, we got a nearly $400 rebate from the
electric company—they finally got around to reading our meter after sending us
estimated bills for a few months.

We have radically reduced our resource use over the last
year. It’s not so bad at all. In fact, as I've written, in some ways it's better.

I’m not saying that the whole United
States should live like our No Impact
household. What I am saying is that, if my little family can be relatively
comfortable using so much less, then it really is possible for our culture to
be comfortable and happy making the more modest reductions that may well be
required, in addition to improvements in technology, to help our sickened
planet.

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Using less

A lot of people are talking about improved energy efficiency
as a means of solving the climate crisis, which is great. But I am not
convinced that technology will bring us quite enough increased efficiency to
make the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

I think, too, that the climate crisis—not to mention the
planet’s numerous other environmental problems—calls for us to use less. Use
less power, use less oil, use less stuff.

As I write, it’s dark out. There is one100-watt equivalent,
solar-powered LED light on in the living room of our apartment. There are no
other lights. When we want to read in bed, we’ll move the light in there.
There’s a beeswax candle in the bathroom for tooth brushing.

No TV is blaring. No video game is bleeping. No air
conditioner is humming. Last month, we got a nearly $400 rebate from the
electric company—they finally got around to reading our meter after sending us
estimated bills for a few months.

We have radically reduced our resource use over the last
year. It’s not so bad at all. In fact, as I've written, in some ways it's better.

I’m not saying that the whole United
States should live like our No Impact
household. What I am saying is that, if my little family can be relatively
comfortable using so much less, then it really is possible for our culture to
be comfortable and happy making the more modest reductions that may well be
required, in addition to improvements in technology, to help our sickened
planet.